Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Marzieh Afkham condemned the attack perpetrated by the armed terrorist groups on the ancient town of Maloula and capturing the nuns of St. Thecla Convent, calling for their immediate release with no conditions.

An armed terrorist group attacked last Monday St. Thecla convent in and held Mother Superior Pelagia Sayyaf and a number of nuns hostage, in addition to committing acts of murder and sabotage in the town.

In a statement, Afkham said that this attack is aimed at igniting sedition in Syria, calling on the international organizations to fulfill their duties as to prevent the repetition of such criminal practices against the Syrian people.